Another interminable international break is over. With only Wales of the home nations having anything meaningful to play for, this one has felt even tougher than ever. Moreso as Brentford find themselves lining up to face Arsenal on Saturday evening with another tick in the column marked ‘injury’.
Nathan Collins is the latest to keep the medical team busy, following an ankle ligament injury suffered in the Republic of Ireland’s 1-0 defeat in Holland.
It’s a bitter blow for The Bees, given how well Nathan has taken to life at the Gtech although at least Ben Mee is back to full fitness. He started the previous game (our reverse at Liverpool) and I can only expect more of the same. It doesn’t take Nostradamus to predict a back three of Ben, Ethan Pinnock and Kris Ajer with Vitaly Janelt and Mads Roerslev returning to the left and right respectively.
Ahead of them a midfield trio of Onyeka, Norgaard and Jensen supporting Bryan and Wissa up top. Options to open up the game coming in the second half when Neal Maupay will come on in place of a defender on the hour mark.
This assumes, of course, that Thomas Frank is playing ‘subs by numbers’. With a mere four points between us and a Newcastle United team occupying the last of the European spots, might he be tempted to go harder from the off? Then lock it up later into the game?
Unlikely. He’s very much one for playing the moment. That’s good news as there’s no need to dwell any further on Liverpool – well though Brentford played at times, it was comprehensive in the end. Likewise, the less we reflect on last season’s home game with Arsenal the better. The backdrop of Queen Elizabeth’s funeral making the mood poles apart from the moment Sergi Canos did ‘that thing’ the season before.
As for Arsenal, well one of the few things we can say for sure is that goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale will get a rare outing. This, given David Raya can’t play against his parent club in that FFP swerving loan deal. Fábio Vieira also misses out as a result of suspension whilst Jurrien Timber and Thomas Partey are definite injury-related absentees.
To be fair, such is the wealth of talent at Mikel Arteta’s disposal that whomever he starts will provide Brentford with a more than formidable test. He has a squad that are a solitary point from the top of the table for good reason. Their last two Premier League games have seen eight goals put past basement clubs Sheffield United and Burnley whilst that recent run also includes the defeat of Manchester City.
The Bees ran Arsenal close in September’s League Cup tie as the Gunners were left with no choice but to keep strengthening the starting XI from the bench to maintain their slender lead. That one ended 1-0 to the visitors with an early Reiss Nelson goal dividing the teams. A game played out in a quieter-than-normal atmosphere (as much caused by the neutrals / Arsenal fans sitting on their hands amongst the Bees faithful).
This time around it will be different. A full house of passionate Bees will be determined to raise the roof. To evoke memories of Sergi Canos. To show David Raya why he should have stayed.
Hey, it worked the first time Christian Eriksen came back. Roll on 17:30 to see if it could happen again….
